How Do Olympians Train for the Games?

Olympians are the best athletes in the world. If you’re looking for amazing displays of just what the human body is capable of doing, there’s no better place to look. Of course, getting to the level of an Olympian isn’t easy; it takes a combination of natural talent and years of dedicated training it be able to do what those athletes do.

Not everyone has the natural talent, but anyone can take an example from the training that Olympians use to get in peak physical shape, and apply it to their own workout routines.

Proper Diet

What, did you think training to be an Olympian was all springs and weight lifting? Any Olympic athlete or trainer can tell you that just important to getting into shape is proper diet and hydration.

Specifically, Olympians eat a breakfast rich in carbohydrates and lean protein, and keep eating every 3-4 hours (and within 90 minutes of every workout). Also, they drink lots of fluids. LOTS of fluids. On a typical day, an Olympian drinks half their own body weight in water, plus sports drinks rich in electrolytes after workouts.

Warm-Up and Recovery

Also important to developing the perfect Olympic training regimen is understanding the role warm-ups and recovery exercises play. A typical Olympic warm-up includes 10 minutes of jogging or jumping rope, followed by 10-15 minutes of dynamic warm-ups (skipping, reverse lunges, or other exercises that improve flexibility and coordination, and prevent injuries).

Once the workout is finished, Olympians always make sure to follow up with recovery techniques to reduce soreness and keep the body limber – foam rolling, massage, and stretches are a must.

Planning and Mental Training

It’s always a good idea to have a specific fitness goal in mind, so that you have something to work toward and a way to measure your progress. Like with everything else, Olympians take this to the next level.

Most Olympic athletes plan their training schedules years in advance (four years in advance, to be precise), and then stick with that schedule from the time one year’s Games end and another begins.

While most people may not have the time or discipline to stick to a four-year plan like that, they can still follow Olympians’ example by setting a specific goal for themselves, and a timeframe in which they want to meet it. Training like an Olympian requires exercising your brain and willpower, as much as your muscles.

Diversify Your Routine

Most athletes may focus on one particular event, but that doesn’t mean that they keep their training confined to just one of exercise. Runners don’t just run – they do sit ups, pull ups, ball exercises, and sometimes even take ballet. To be the best physically, you need to build all your muscles and train your entire body.

Training like an Olympian starts with the perfect diet. Promax Nutrition sports nutrition bars are designed to provide athletes with the perfect mix of proteins and nutrients, and come in a variety of flavors and formulas to meet your needs. Want to learn more? Contact us today.